Friday, May 21, 2010
Perfect birthday time.
I could just write one word - perfect!
The three days we had to celebrate Bill's birthday were everything we could have wished for.
How lucky we are!
Our little home was the perfect bed and breakfast place for us - we were in our own little converted barn with lots of fresh supplies for breakfast on our two mornings.
This morning we sat outside with newly laid eggs, bread, cereal, yoghurts and strawberries watching the cavorting squirrels, including a white one and listening to a thousand birds and bleating lambs in the field.
On Wednesday we stopped in Hastings. We explored the old town narrow streets and beautiful buildings, ate in a Spanish tapas cafe, looked at fishing boats and went to the fishing museum.
We had planned to go up the newly renovated East Cliff lift railway. But the sea mist rolled in at great speed - fascinating to watch.
We went off to our little barn. We enjoyed a cup of tea and then walked through the apple blossom to a hill with a windmill - owned by Paul McCartney.
The sun shone down and it was wonderful.
In the evening we ate at the local pub - fine curries, but more than we could get through!
Yesterday we explored Winchelsea. It is a gem of a place. We spent time in the church and walking the medieval town and visited the museum. We bought some lupin plants there.
We were provided with so much for breakfast that we felt we had enough to make a small picnic, which we took with us as we walked to Camber Castle - a ruin in the middle of Pett level.
Then we went to Rye.
Rye has such a reputation for beauty and history that it attracts many visitors.
We had tea and cake in a tea shop close to the church.
Bill climbed to the top of the church tower, meeting people we know from the Post Card club on the stairs.
We went back to Hastings for fish and chips in the evening.
There was a hold up as we left the barn - an ambulance was blocking the lane. In fact there were 2 ambulances called to a problem at the pub.
Later we called in for a night cap and we talked of the problem.
An elderly man out with his wife and family had collapsed in the pub garden.
As we drank, the lady at the bar came over to me to say a message had come through that the gentleman didn't make it.
Very sad, but we both thought the man was in the sunshine with all his loved ones as he died. But what a shock for the loved ones.
You might think this would have made things less than perfect for us - but we actually felt just a little bit part of the local community as a result.
This morning, after our lovely breakfast in the garden we went back to Hastings, determined to get up the East Cliff railway. It was lovely at the top - grassy cliff tops, dotted with gorse, leading to the glens of Ecclesbourne and Fairlight.
We will go back and explore the glens.
It was time then to move inland and start our little journey towards home.
But our jaunt was not yet over. We stopped at Bodiam - the castle that might be the most perfect in all England. It certainly seemed so on this glorious day of sunshine.
We had expected that maybe there would be crowds - but fortunately it was really peaceful.
We picnicked on the grass - feeding snippets to the greedy ducks.
We admired the outside of the castle and moat, and explored the remains of the inside - exhausting out muscles climbing up and down the towers.
We had tea cake and elderflower sorbet in the cafe before leaving.
The journey back in the afternoon sunshine and with stunning views reminded us how lucky we are to have Sussex has the backcloth to our lives.
There will be pictures of course.
I shall be sharing pictures for days to come.
But not tonight.
We need time to relax and do chores like washing.
We plan to be boot saling in the morning - maybe Ford.
The good weather is set to continue a little longer.
Bill thanks everybody for cards and good wishes - some received before we went (and taken with us) and others opened this evening.
I am sure he will make some personal thank yous at some point.
And one day we will return to our little barn, I feel sure.
The three days we had to celebrate Bill's birthday were everything we could have wished for.
How lucky we are!
Our little home was the perfect bed and breakfast place for us - we were in our own little converted barn with lots of fresh supplies for breakfast on our two mornings.
This morning we sat outside with newly laid eggs, bread, cereal, yoghurts and strawberries watching the cavorting squirrels, including a white one and listening to a thousand birds and bleating lambs in the field.
On Wednesday we stopped in Hastings. We explored the old town narrow streets and beautiful buildings, ate in a Spanish tapas cafe, looked at fishing boats and went to the fishing museum.
We had planned to go up the newly renovated East Cliff lift railway. But the sea mist rolled in at great speed - fascinating to watch.
We went off to our little barn. We enjoyed a cup of tea and then walked through the apple blossom to a hill with a windmill - owned by Paul McCartney.
The sun shone down and it was wonderful.
In the evening we ate at the local pub - fine curries, but more than we could get through!
Yesterday we explored Winchelsea. It is a gem of a place. We spent time in the church and walking the medieval town and visited the museum. We bought some lupin plants there.
We were provided with so much for breakfast that we felt we had enough to make a small picnic, which we took with us as we walked to Camber Castle - a ruin in the middle of Pett level.
Then we went to Rye.
Rye has such a reputation for beauty and history that it attracts many visitors.
We had tea and cake in a tea shop close to the church.
Bill climbed to the top of the church tower, meeting people we know from the Post Card club on the stairs.
We went back to Hastings for fish and chips in the evening.
There was a hold up as we left the barn - an ambulance was blocking the lane. In fact there were 2 ambulances called to a problem at the pub.
Later we called in for a night cap and we talked of the problem.
An elderly man out with his wife and family had collapsed in the pub garden.
As we drank, the lady at the bar came over to me to say a message had come through that the gentleman didn't make it.
Very sad, but we both thought the man was in the sunshine with all his loved ones as he died. But what a shock for the loved ones.
You might think this would have made things less than perfect for us - but we actually felt just a little bit part of the local community as a result.
This morning, after our lovely breakfast in the garden we went back to Hastings, determined to get up the East Cliff railway. It was lovely at the top - grassy cliff tops, dotted with gorse, leading to the glens of Ecclesbourne and Fairlight.
We will go back and explore the glens.
It was time then to move inland and start our little journey towards home.
But our jaunt was not yet over. We stopped at Bodiam - the castle that might be the most perfect in all England. It certainly seemed so on this glorious day of sunshine.
We had expected that maybe there would be crowds - but fortunately it was really peaceful.
We picnicked on the grass - feeding snippets to the greedy ducks.
We admired the outside of the castle and moat, and explored the remains of the inside - exhausting out muscles climbing up and down the towers.
We had tea cake and elderflower sorbet in the cafe before leaving.
The journey back in the afternoon sunshine and with stunning views reminded us how lucky we are to have Sussex has the backcloth to our lives.
There will be pictures of course.
I shall be sharing pictures for days to come.
But not tonight.
We need time to relax and do chores like washing.
We plan to be boot saling in the morning - maybe Ford.
The good weather is set to continue a little longer.
Bill thanks everybody for cards and good wishes - some received before we went (and taken with us) and others opened this evening.
I am sure he will make some personal thank yous at some point.
And one day we will return to our little barn, I feel sure.
Labels: home and daily life, Sussex
